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Denver and the West

Denver offers residents help with graffiti removal

By Sadie GurmanThe Denver Post

Posted:
03/11/2013 08:14:25 AM MDT

Updated:
03/11/2013 09:06:30 AM MDT

Denver Graffiti Unit Detectives Gerard Alarcon, left and George Gray, right, look at some new "tags" or graffiti in an alley near Federal Blvd in Denver, CO on March 6th, 2013. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

The Denver Public Works department removed 2,150,950 square feet of graffiti throughout the city in 2012 alone. The department offers free graffiti removal to residents who call 311 or report it and file a police report at KnowGraffiti.com. Residents can also order paint from the city and other graffiti-cleaning supplies.

Public Works also advises residents to avoid getting tagged by planting short shrubs and prickly plants around their properties; putting vines and climbing plants along walls; securing gates and repairing fences; and installing outdoor lighting, among other measures.

Graffiti detectives George Gray and Gerard Alarcon have also begun encouraging residents to write letters similar to victim-impact statements to judges after an arrest has been made and a tagger is awaiting sentencing. The detectives will put the letters in the case file.

"It's very hard to catch them, and when we do, we've got to hold them to the fire and make them understand that it affects the whole community," Gray said. "(Neighbors) want to let the judge know, "Hey don't just slap this kid on the wrist.'"

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